Improvement in thrashing-machines



2 Sheets--Sheet I,

I. T. BARTON. Thrashng-Machines.

Patented May 27,1873.

FIG@ I INVENTORZ WITNESSES:

.di lorneys.

2 Sheets-Shect 2.

I. T. BARTON. Thrashing-Machines. N0. l3Q,35-), PatentedMay27,l873.

WITNESSESZ INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES'l PATENT OFFICE ISAAC T. BARTON, 0F `UNION CITY, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN THRASHlNG-MACHINES.

Speclication formingr part of Letters Patent No. 139,355, dated May :27, 1873; application tiled May 10, 1873.

To all trimm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC T. BARTON, of Union City, Branch county, State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Grain Thrashing and Separating Machines, of which the following is a specification:

Nafura und Objects of the Invention.

The novelty in my machine relates chiefly to the straw carrying and separating apparatus. The straw passes from the thrashingeylinder to a carrier consisting of a series ot' fans the rotary movements of which, in addition to shaking the straw, produce an upward current of air throughout the whole length oi' the carrier, so as to lighten up the straw and e`ect a complete separation ofthe grain, which descends by its gravity through the spaces between the wings ofthe fans, and is conducted to and through the winnowng apparatus in customary manner.

Description of the Dmwings.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I is a plan or top view of a thrashing-maehine, representing especially the separating apparatus to which my invention relates. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the separating-fans.

General Description.

The frame A, thrashing-cylinder B, concave winnowing apparatus D E S, and other parts of the machine not herein speciically described, may be constructed in any usual or suitable manner. The straw carrier and sep arator to which my improvement especially relates consists of a series of fans, F F F, arranged in an ascending plane toward the tail ofthe machine. The projecting ends of the fan-shafts are provided with pulleys (lr, through the medium ot' which a number of them are connected by belts H ll, which may be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 3, the intermediate pulleys I serving' to keep the traction of the belt on the driving-pulleys. The rearrnost two ofthe fans I connect, as shown, by means of a belt, J, tol the transverse shaft K, which is employed to carry and run a grain-apron, L, of common form. The power is transmitted by a belt to the thrashing-cylinder and fanshaft D in usual manner. From the fau-shaft D belts M and N drive the two series of fans F F, which are connected, as alreadydescribed. I I are chutes which prevent the descending grain from falling down beyond the ends of the fans. The case ofthe straw-carrier may be surmounted hya cover, Q,which is shown elevated in Figs. 1 and 2, exposing` the fans F in the former figure.

Operation.

The grain being thrashed by the cylinder B, as much of it as does not pass tlirough the slot concave goes with the straw to the fans F, which reach from near the said cylinder and concave to the tail ot the machine. The fans run overshot, passing` the straw and chati' from one to another and creating a stron g current of air upward and rearward, which, operatiug beneath the straw, lightens it up and causes the grain to be completely separated by its own gravity. The grain, fallin g through and between the fans F and the apron L and board O is by them delivered to the shoe S of the winnowing apparatus with such chaas has not been carried oil' with the straw.

The fans may run from two hundred to three hundred revolutions per minute, or about oneA half the speed oi' the winnowing-fan D E. 1 do not limit myself to these or any exact proportions, but have used the above with goed effect.

I am aware that straw-carriers have before been made in the form ot' horizontal rotary beaters constructed and arranged in various ways, and therefore do not claim such beaters broadly; but I am not aware that such beaters have ever been constructed with radial wings or blades to operate as fans, producing an upward blast beneath the straw; and 1 have found in practice that such fans produce a very important and beneiieial effect in separating the straw and avoiding much waste ot' grain. I am aware that grain-separators have before been made with straw-carriers constituted of a series of reels or rotary beaters; this, therefore, I do not claim.

I have found, in practice, great benefit to result from my mode of constructing the beaters with flat radial wings so that they operate :1xtans,produeinga constant and Strong blast beneath the Straw throughout the length of the carrier. This eli'ectuelly prevents grain I'rnni being, carried over with the straw.

Claims.

'lhe following is claimed as new:

l. The series of fztus F, arranged, as herein deseri hed, to eouduetthe straw from the thrashing-cylinder and constructed with flat radial wings to produee :L current of air beneath the straw to assist in separating the grain, as ex' plaiued.

2. The combination ofthe beater-funs l", constructed, as described, with the thrashing'eyl inder B, grain-carrier L, and Winnowing appuratus D E S, all errati ged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

To the above specification I hereunto set my hand this 5th day of April, 1873.

ISAAC T. BARTON.

Witnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN. 

